2023.01.01
The Year of the Tiger was full of changes, pressures and challenges for JunHe, China and the whole global community. Whether you choose to sink with anxiety or blossom with determination and hard work, the result will always be decided by attitude and action.
JunHe turned 33 during the difficult year of 2022. We believe that by learning from the many changes happening around us and growing up under pressure we can move forward with confidence and positivity. In The Art of War, Sun Tzu urged troops thus: Let your rapidity be that of the wind, your compactness that of the forest. In raiding and plundering be like fire, and immovable like a mountain. Wind, forest, fire and mountain are some of the characteristics of the more than 1,400 JunHe staff members, who worked and strived in concert with each other during the difficult year of 2022.
Our Business is Continuous Like the Wind
In 2022, while making progress in various traditional business areas, JunHe also focused on some of the market hot spots. The team strategically supported several new key areas, which emphasized the companies steady growth.
At the beginning of 2022, JunHe established an ESG business department to integrate three business areas: EHS, green energy and green finance, and corporate governance. JunHe understands ESG from an all-round, three-dimensional and comprehensive perspective, and was actively involved in the ESG legal service markets both home and abroad. In October 2022, the British Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai awarded JunHe the “ESG Legal Service Agency of the Year”, internationally recognizing JunHe in the ESG legal business field.
In 2022, JunHe’s big compliance business department continued to integrate and expand its business areas from the original seven to ten, bringing together a lineup of nearly seventy JunHe partners. The various business areas are interactive and cover the traditional legal service fields. A compliance digital system was put in place to provide JunHe’s clients with one-stop solutions. In 2022, the big compliance business department published its first book with over 880,000 words: The Road to Compliance. ALB China named the department its “China (PRC Firms) Compliance Law Firm of the Year”.
In 2022, JunHe further strengthened its business in the field of bankruptcy and reorganization. It introduced new industry talent to strengthen its team and optimized team staffing, promoted collaborative development and growth from an institutional perspective. JunHe's bankruptcy and reorganization team grew significantly both in quality and quantity through various measures. JunHe’s Shanghai office was ranked on the list of tier-one bankruptcy administrators of the Shanghai High People's Court.
JunHe continued to expand its business with many major projects of market influence such as the listing of Hinova Pharmaceuticals’ on the STAR Market and Hengkang Medical’s bankruptcy and reorganization. JunHe represented a large state-owned bank and its bankruptcy administrator in a dispute case requiring the revocation of the individual repayment act, and won an overall victory. JunHe assisted the largest IPO of onewo on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2022, INEOS’ three major transactions with Sinopec with a total value of approximately USD 7 billion and assisted Shiseido in establishing the first international beauty group special investment fund in mainland China. JunHe assisted AIM Vaccine, China’s first largest full industry chain private vaccine group, in its IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the Round A financing of RMB 18.3 billion by Guangzhou Automobile Corporation Aion and the issuance by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) of RMB 3 billion carbon neutral green bonds. JunHe also assisted Stanley to acquire the controlling rights of Chengde Lihe River Fertilizer Company Limited.
Cultivating Social Responsibility Commitments
Since JunHe began over 33 years ago, we have always been mindful of our social responsibilities. In 2022, we made further efforts in education philanthropy with more than ten JunHe volunteers providing regular music and fine arts classes in an online classroom we created for JunHe Hope Primary School students, located at the old revolutionary base areas of Baishitai Village, Fuping County, Hebei Province. We joined Beijing Changrui Foundation in hosting a rural school football program, helping schools in underdeveloped areas to promote the sport on campus. During the summer vacation, JunHe held 14 pro-bono public lectures themed around minor protection topics aimed at protecting young people, reaching around 377,000 page views and 79,000 video views. JunHe’s achievements were selected as “Model Pro Bono Cases of Law Firms” by Legal Daily News.
In 2022, JunHe actively carried out ESG principles by promoting green operational principles, internally cultivating low carbon ideals and participating in public environmental welfare campaigns. These environmental public service efforts are in addition to our pro bono legal services and education philanthropy. JunHe and Beijing Afforestation Foundation (BAF) jointly established the BAF Carbon Neutrality Special Fund, which is the first carbon neutrality special fund in China to be sponsored by a law firm. JunHe’s Chengdu office became the first carbon-free law firm in China to be accredited by an authoritative certifying body since the 30/60 decarbonization goal was set by the state. As a leading law firm in China, we are making significant efforts in implementing public environmental welfare concepts, hoping to enhance society’s awareness of climate change and join efforts in emission reduction and decarbonization. JunHe’s green initiatives have attracted attention and recognition from legal media companies in China and abroad. In 2022, JunHe was awarded the“Pro Bono Initiative of the Year” by China Law & Practice Awards, and the “Best ESG Law Firm” by CLECSS.
JunHe’s compassion and generosity gives back to society and promotes a green future that will benefit all.
Bright Honors
As a globally renowned “Red Circle” law firm, the expertise of JunHe lawyers in different practice areas has been affirmed by legal media companies both in China and abroad for decades. In 2022, JunHe kept its position as the forerunner in various Chinese and international rankings and awards, and was named “Firm of the Year-China” by Who’s Who Legal for the fifth time and “China-Equity Capital Markets Firm of the Year” in the 2022 International Financial Law Review Awards. JunHe received the “China (PRC Firms) Client Service Award” from Chambers Asia Pacific & Greater China Region Awards, ranked first in the 2022 STAR Market’s Law Firm Leaderboard in the China Business Law Journal’s rankings, and listed in the “Demonstration Cases: China Services” of CIFTIS. These awards and rankings are evidence of JunHe’s strength and expertise, as well as the professionalism and ingenuity of our lawyers.
Strong Foundations
In poetic terms, virtuous people are like steadfast mountains and like cauldrons are able to bear weighty loads. In 2022, JunHe continued to strengthen its foundations by enhancing corporatization and the integration of our internal systems. Though we are exposed to the wind and the rain of the macro economy, we stick to the firm’s concept of internal cooperation by establishing internal platforms and setting up interoffice cooperative mechanisms.
We continued our efforts in introducing lawyers with expertise in emerging practice areas. This year we welcomed new legal talent in the areas of international arbitration, international legal compliance, bankruptcy and restructuring and Hong Kong related business to consolidate our competitiveness. JunHe was named the “China Employer of Choice” in the legal industry by ALB for the 13th time. We also created a KMS knowledge management system to enhance knowledge sharing and exchange within the firm. JunHe won the “Oscar in the World of Knowledge Management”, becoming the first ever Chinese law firm to win the China MIKE Award, which highlights JunHe’s successful efforts in building a “digitized law firm”.
2022 has certainly been a year to remember. All our efforts and achievements in 2022 have become solid footprints that we leave behind. The year ahead remains uncertain and challenging in terms of both the legal service market and the political and economic environment at large. However, bearing in mind JunHe’s spirits of “Wind, Forest, Fire and Mountain”, we are determined to overcome any difficulties we face and reach the next pinnacle for the firm.
We extend our sincere gratitude to all our clients, friends and families for sharing the joys and sorrows of the challenging year of 2022. With your trust and support, we were able to sail through the rough seas and we are extremely grateful to our more than 1400 members of the JunHe family. Thank you for your hard work during the 365 days and nights of 2022. Without your efforts, we could never have become the outstanding company we are today. Thank you.
